Historic Petra

The ancient city of Petra in Jordan deserves to be on the new Seven Wonders of the World list.

The ancient city of Petra in Jordan certainly deserves to be on the new 7 Wonders of the World list.

Dermott was lucky enough to experience the amazing site which was carved by hand from solid rock by the Nabataeans in around 200BC.

The industrious Arab people settled in southern Jordan over 2000 years ago and they knew what they were doing. Their kingdom sat in the middle of the exotic trade route linking China and Rome. They carried frankincense, myrrh and spices from Yemen. Those wanting safe passage paid tax and the Nabataeans became very wealthy.

Petra is in the mountains on the eastern side of Arabah, the valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. Its 30,000 inhabitants deserted it after a series of 3rd century earthquakes weakened the buildings.

It remained unknown to the western world until it was introduced by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812.

The rock-carved rose-red city of Petra (which means "rock" in Latin and Greek) is admired for its refined culture, massive architecture and ingenious complex of dams and water channels. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The town grew around its colonnaded street and by the mid-1st century achieved rapid urbanization. Among the most remarkable achievements is the hydraulic engineering systems invented by the Nabataeans. They included water conservation systems and dams to divert the rush of swollen winter waters.

To enter Petra today, visitors travel a dusty trail along The Valley of Moses. There are small Nabataean tombs on rocky outcrops on both sides, and further on, sandstone cliffs rise like a huge wall. A narrow passage, known as a siq, leads into Petra. The natural geological feature formed when there was a deep split in the sandstone. It’s just 3 metres wide in places. The long, cool and dark chasm is a wonderful way to reach the magic of Petra.

The Petra basin boasts over 800 monuments including buildings, tombs, baths, funerary halls, temples, arched gateways and colonnaded streets. They were mostly carved from the kaleidoscopic sandstone. Guards keep watch, but mostly visitors are free to roam around the site.

The Treasury, El Khazneh, is the most famous building and one of the largest at 40 metres high. According to legend, the urn at the top is full of the pharaoh’s treasure.

Qasr al-Bint was created around 2nd century BC and is remarkable as it was the only freestanding building and it withstood every earthquake thrown at it thanks to wood being laid between the stones. From there you can hike the 800 steps up the mountain to visit the monastery and what you see will make a lasting impression.

LocationPetra in Jordan, 3 hour drive from the capital, Amman.

CostGreece & Mediterranean Travel Centre has a 3 day Petra Experience including return transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle with English speaking driver from Amman, 2 nights’ accommodation in a 3 star hotel, breakfast, horse ride and entrance fees. They start at $645 per person twin share and run year round.